AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 28
Atlas
Atlas didn’t need to turn around. Her reaction confirmed everything. Her eyes flicked back and forth between Atlas and the man who had finally stolen everything from him. Oliver had been chosen over him, again. Zoey’s true father. Jasmine had thought he was Oliver all along. She’d wanted the parent of her child. And Atlas had played right into her hands. None of it was real between them. Anger rose—his only protection.
“I think you’ve already met my brother, Oliver.” His voice was like steel.
Jasmine stepped backwards as if the truth had been a physical blow. Fear flashed in her eyes. She reached out to Atlas, but he jerked away, grasping her wrists.
“Atlas?” she pleaded.
Oliver chuckled, oblivious to the earthquake shaking Atlas’s world off its axis. “I see why you didn’t hurry back home. She’s hot. But sleeping with the new inn owner won’t get her to sell this place to you. Give it up already.”
Jasmine backed up as if she’d been slapped. He got a tiny bit of satisfaction from that. Now you know what it’s like to feel used.
“What? That’s why you were here?” She ran a hand over her forehead. “That’s why you kept asking about the inn and money.” She whipped her attention back to him, eyes blurring with tears. “I trusted you. You betrayed me.”
“Guess you know how it feels,” he snapped.
“You look familiar. Have we met before?” Oliver asked, stepping closer to Jasmine.
Her green eyes searched Atlas’s face, the unspoken plea flashing. Please don’t tell him about Zoey. He gave nothing away in his expression. She’d used him, and what was the most vile, she’d made him fall for her. Then she’d ripped his heart out, committing the worst possible sin. It had been Oliver she was hoping for all along. Her gaze dropped, shoulders slumped as she wrapped her arms around herself. She looked so fragile and broken. A part of him wanted to comfort her—hold her and tell her it was all going to be okay. And that made him even more angry. She still held power over him.
Atlas turned his anger towards Oliver. “You cheated on Christina.”
Recognition flashed in Oliver’s eyes as he flicked his eyes back over to Jasmine. “That’s right.” His eyes raked over Jasmine’s body.
Atlas clenched his fist, grinding his teeth until his jaw screamed in pain.
“That’s why you look so familiar. Wait—that old lady wouldn’t sell to me because of you? You’re the one she turned my offer down for?”
Jasmine winced. Hurt was written across the curves of her face. Pain shone in her green eyes. Atlas stepped into Oliver’s space, shoving his chest against his brother’s.
“Hey!”
“Does Christina know?” Atlas demanded.
“I mean, a man has needs, Atlas. Surely you know that. You fuck anything that moves and never more than once.”
“I’m not the one who’s married.” He slammed his hand against Oliver’s shoulder.
Oliver held up his hands. “I was drunk. She came on to me.”
Atlas turned to Jasmine. “Is that true?”
She turned her face to the floor. “I didn’t know he was married.” Her voice was so small. Another spear through his shredded heart.
“Good to know you have some standards,” Atlas deadpanned.
She squeezed her arms tighter; tears dripped down her cheeks.
Every part of him ached, screaming at him, pulling him in different directions. His heart told him to wrap her in his arms and hear her out. But his mind kept flashing back to what her ex and those women had said in the restaurant. Had the whole town been laughing at him? Had those women actually tried to warn him?
He pushed Oliver aside and rushed upstairs to his room. After tearing out his suitcase, he started packing.
“Atlas?” Jasmine’s voice cracked.
He wouldn’t turn around and look at her. “Get out.”
